Last month I moved to a new job, and as a leaving gift from my old workplace one of my fabulous formed colleagues gave me a cookbook. I suspect this was prompted, more than a little, by my poor showing in the office’s Bake Off competition, but as I flicked through it the other day I realised how great cookbooks are as gifts.
This got me thinking about Christmas, and the gifts I’ve got to purchase for friends. Some are hard to buy for, like my friend who’s a vegan and loves reading. She has loads of novels and non-fiction texts, so a cookbook is actually a good shout, and as the trend for veganism grows there are so many vegan cookbooks out there now. As such, I’ll have loads of choice when I go to buy her one.
It’s not just friends with dietary requirements that will love a cookbook this Christmas: they’re a great all-round present too. After all, everyone eats, and most people love food. Even those who say they don’t, and live off frozen ready meals and takeout still enjoy a good meal, even if they can’t cook one to save their life.
There’s also something about reading, or watching, someone else make food that’s so incredibly enticing. That’s why there are so many reality TV shows focused around cooking. There are also a lot of shows out there that aim to teach people how to cook, but somehow a book is a much more satisfying gift. You really feel like you’re the one doing it if you use a book, and the feeling of not having to rely on technology is also really lovely in this day and age.
So this Christmas if you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone special, or a general present for someone you don’t know that well, then choose a cookbook. You can’t go wrong with a good cookbook, and they come at varying price points; from full whack at Waterstone’s to older books you can buy comparatively cheap at the Works. There’s something for everyone and you can make someone really happy with a well-thought-out cookbook gift.
The Dorset Book Detective 